Radar.........so I can speed.... just kidding

[TruenoBZG]

I would like to purchase a radar detector

How much and what are the best?

Have heard 'Valentine' is one of the best brands - enlighten me.

Thanks

[snwtoy]

Only two worth spending anything on.
Valentine is my pick - once you've experienced the directional arrows you'll never look at anything else.
The other is ... erm... can't remember.. might be a Bel.

[Al]

Yep V1 is where its at, buy it from the US.

[TruenoBZG]

I was thinking a Bel rx65 - around $400 price wise, they look like they've got everything - why is Valentine so reknown?

[snwtoy]

I was thinking a Bel rx65 - around $400 price wise, they look like they've got everything - why is Valentine so reknown?

Not worth spending any money on it. Seriously you're better waiting till you can afford a valentine.

[TruenoBZG]

I was thinking a Bel rx65 - around $400 price wise, they look like they've got everything - why is Valentine so reknown?

Not worth spending any money on it. Seriously you're better waiting till you can afford a valentine.

Cool man, thanks - is that basically because they have too many false readings? ( and might not pick up radars 100% of the time )

[Mr.Phreak]

The other is ... erm... can't remember.. might be a Bel.

Bel XR-STI?

[Adydas]

If your not going to speed, why do you need it?

[TruenoBZG]

Lets say peace of mind.

[snwtoy]

Cool man, thanks - is that basically because they have too many false readings? ( and might not pick up radars 100% of the time )

False readings, plus the amount of warning most of them (*cough*uniden*cough) give is not enough time to slow down from even a few ks over the limit.

Yes, the other one is the Bel XR STI. It's got better detection and more features that the V1, but lack of directional arrows still places it second on my list. Other's opinions may vary.

[Caveman]

Before buying one please consider you will be a target for theft.

My mate has had two stolen from him. Both smash a grabs. One in his WRX botany carpark during mid day, the other in taupo from a EVO 9.

Also hear a lot of people have windows smashed. Even going into a gas station, have to pull it down a few blocks before you get there.

They are very popular, for a reason too.

Just something to bear in mind.

[thornz]

Cool man, thanks - is that basically because they have too many false readings? ( and might not pick up radars 100% of the time )

False readings, plus the amount of warning most of them (*cough*uniden*cough) give is not enough time to slow down from even a few ks over the limit.

Yes, the other one is the Bel XR STI. It's got better detection and more features that the V1, but lack of directional arrows still places it second on my list. Other's opinions may vary.

well i have to disagree here, i had a uniden for a few years (before it got stolen), and i found it worked bloody well, gave me heaps of advance warning of radars and the like, saved me from a quite a few tickets over ther years, definitly made its money back!

my two cents anyway

[mister two]

I have a bel that was imported from the states and is really good. Only time i have ever had a ticket with it was coming over the brow of a hill, which none will save you from! Has plenty of settings that mean you can lower falses and picks up lasers really well, even though if you are speeding and they get you with a laser you are $&#$% anyway, no matter what detector you have.

Have used a uniden and they are really nothing in comparison! no warning by comparison, mine picks them up heaps before, have been beside a mate with a uniden who didn't pick up a cop for ages after mine went off too.

If you are worried about it getting stolen dont leave it visible - common sense.

[TruenoBZG]

I'm thinking I might upgrade my alarm before I get too interested into this!

[adamkerrnz]

If you dont want it stolen, get it properly installed, Unit under dash, Detector in front grille. costs more but at least your not a target.

[Jazza]

Before buying one please consider you will be a target for theft.

My mate has had two stolen from him. Both smash a grabs. One in his WRX botany carpark during mid day, the other in taupo from a EVO 9.

Also hear a lot of people have windows smashed. Even going into a gas station, have to pull it down a few blocks before you get there.

They are very popular, for a reason too.

Just something to bear in mind.

Or simply put it in your pocket when you leave the car. No bigger than a cigarette packet... (not much bigger*)

[Caveman]

Before buying one please consider you will be a target for theft.

My mate has had two stolen from him. Both smash a grabs. One in his WRX botany carpark during mid day, the other in taupo from a EVO 9.

Also hear a lot of people have windows smashed. Even going into a gas station, have to pull it down a few blocks before you get there.

They are very popular, for a reason too.

Just something to bear in mind.

Or simply put it in your pocket when you leave the car. No bigger than a cigarette packet... (not much bigger*)

You have no idea how these thieves work. Not a simple fix like that.

If they are following you, they see you V1, they'll take your plate, visit you at night, etc, etc. Even people who know thieves will take your plate for a small cut.

I've heard of people taking the radar out but leaving the cord in the cigerette lighter, they smashed a window and had a look for it (glove box, etc)

Just a grim reality I guess.

Best protection would be a good alarm and security tints, the house security flavour which is aparently twice as thick as normal car security film.

Dont mean to put you down on buying one, just something you have to consider, especially if you live in auckland.

Quite a few of these groups are pretty pro at theift, sucks really

Just have to weigh up if you really need it. I dont see any real legal reason for needing one but if you must have one, just be aware and cautious

[snwtoy]

What 1998 said.
I've had mine stolen off the seat beside me in a movie theatre. So even removal from the car is no guarantee of retention.

[NILPSI]

I agree with everybody here, i had my uniden stolen out of my car up my driveway, so keep it out of sight!

BUT, if you are going to buy one then i would say valentines are good but because they are made in the states thats the kind of conditions they work best in, LONG straight open roads where you need to pick up a cop before you see them (nothing you'll ever find in NZ) if i was gonna buy another one it would be the bel XR950, they are designed to work best on twisty roads with large obstacles in the way

Also you dont need to worry about unidens any more, they dont make them as the country that bought the majority of them made it illegal to buy them so they called it quits with radars, they only make some ghey GPS thing now

Also what you must remember is unless youre traveling in a big row of cars youre screwed, cops dont have to leave their radars on and by the time your radar has picked up that hes flicked it on, hes got you!

Im sure they have "saved" if you will, a few people on here but personally i wouldnt buy another one because they are now very limited in what they can pick up and when they can do it

[snwtoy]

BUT, if you are going to buy one then i would say valentines are good but because they are made in the states thats the kind of conditions they work best in, LONG straight open roads where you need to pick up a cop before you see them (nothing you'll ever find in NZ) if i was gonna buy another one it would be the bel XR950, they are designed to work best on twisty roads with large obstacles in the way

Also what you must remember is unless youre traveling in a big row of cars youre screwed, cops dont have to leave their radars on and by the time your radar has picked up that hes flicked it on, hes got you!

Im sure they have "saved" if you will, a few people on here but personally i wouldnt buy another one because they are now very limited in what they can pick up and when they can do it

Sorry, but that's spoken like one who has never driven with a valentine. The v1 can pick radar from any direction, made in the US has nothing to do with how it performs.
The unidens are limited, the V1 is not. V1 will usually pick up a radar at a minimum of 2x the range of the best uniden.
Yes cops can use the lick on / off trick to get you, but the technology in NZ still requires a couple of seconds to lock on to your speed - more than enough time to react. In all my time of driving with a v1, I only ever came across 2 cops who did this. 99% of them just leave it on all the time (and even forget to switch it off when they leave the car). NZ police = lazy.